A
false-color image of Saturn’s F ring reveals a fan-shaped area caused by the gravitational
tug of a nearby moonlet, as seen by Cassini.
Scientists
from the U.K. published a paper in the June issue of Nature on how small
moonlets can shape the evolution of the F ring through gravitational influence and
collisions. Previous observations had shown that the F ring can also reveal the
gravitational signature of embedded objects that can’t be seen directly, as
well as the larger shepherding moons such as Promethus.
The
F ring can change on timescales ranging from hours to years, and is likely the
only solar system location where large scale collisions happen on a daily
basis. Scientists hope to learn more about planetary origins and formation by
studying the ring.
— NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute and SPACE.com
Staff
Credit: NASA/JPL/Space
Science Institute
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